from the week before but i'm not reading anything into those numbers right now because of hurricane sandi and how that has disruptured the filings. >> gdp numbers strong. is the trend we're seeing overall here, christine? >> we're seeing a little more durability in the economic recovery at this point. congress, don't mess it up. >> good luck with that. christine romans, thank you so much. >>> it has been more than three weeks since the election. with partisan gridlock potentially holding up everything from the resolution to a fiscal cliff to appointing a new secretary of state, it looks like washington is settling right back into its old ways. >> two republicans in congress with no reason to tow the party line with us this morning. they have the same last name. joining us from the capital, husband and wife team, outgoing california congresswoman, mary bono mack. and conniemack. this obama/romney lunch date. you could see yourself in similar situations. if you were to be having lunch with senator nelson or congressman-elect ruiz, what would you want them to say to you? >> well, i would lik